Electrical Activity of the Heart Flashcards
Calcium is released from the
Sarcoplasmic reticulum
All cells of the heart are connected
Physically and electrically
What allows for physical connection of cells
Desmosomes
What allows for electrical connection of cells
Gap junction
Desmosomes and gap junctions together form
Intercalated discs
Cardiac muscle froms a
Functional syncytium
Action potential of cardiac muscle
250ms
Why can cardiac muscle not exhibit tetanic contraction
Due to long refractory period
Tetanus
Sustained contraction
What regulates the contraction of cardiac muscle
Calcium ions entry from outside the cell
Cardiac muscle can only contract in the presence of
Calcium ions
More calcium ions results in
Greater strength of contraction
Cells with unstable resting membrane potentials act as
Pacemakers
2 types of cardiac muscle
Non-pacemakers and pacemakers
Resting membrane potential of non-pacemaker cardiac muscle is maintained by
Potassium ions leaving the cell
Initial depolarisation in non-pacemaker cardiac muscle occurs by
Entry of sodium ions into cell
Plateau in non-pacemaker cardiac muscle is reached by
Entry of calcium ions via L-type voltage gated channels and potassium ions leaving the cell
Repolarisation in non-pacemaker cardiac muscle occurs by
Calcium ions leave the cell and potassium ions enter the cell